Charles Taylor’s Multiculturalism

This book was initially put together as a means of thinking through Multiculturalism through a single essay, Taylor’s “The Politics of Recognition,” but this new edition synthesizes this monumental essay with separate essays on Multiculturalism by Habermas and Appiah.

Gutmann – Introduction

Amy Gutmann’s (UPenn) introduction serves to begin the volume by noting the impersonality of political institutions and the neutrality of the public sphere. Should this sphere interfere with personal recognition and reflected identities? Her conclusion, with little evidence for the fact (it’s a presupposition, naturally), is that liberal states are obligated to help disadvantaged groups preserve their culture against intrusions, and to be acknowledged rather than ignored.

Good thing Gutmann’s summary isn’t quite as well respected as Taylor’s primary essay, or else we might all be in deep…